Harden Castle facts for kids

Harden Castle is an old tower house from the 1500s. It's located about 3.5 miles west of Hawick in the Scottish Borders, Scotland. People sometimes call it Harden House or Harden Tower. This castle stands in a strong spot, high above a deep valley.

A Look Back in Time

Harden Castle has a long and interesting past. Before this castle was built, there was an even older tower here, but it was destroyed around 1590. The land originally belonged to a group called the Homes. But in 1501, the Scotts bought it and made it their own.

One famous member of the Scott family was Walter Scott of Harden. He was known as Auld Wat of Harden. He was a "Border Reiver," which means he was part of a group of people who lived near the border between Scotland and England. These groups often raided each other's lands for cattle and other goods. Walter Scott married a woman named Mary, or Marion, Scott, who was famously known as ‘The Flower of Yarrow’. Her story is even told in an old song called the ballad The Dowie Dens o Yarrow.

Later, in the 1700s, the Scott family moved to a different place called Mertoun. Harden Castle was then used as a farmhouse for a while. But in the 1800s, it was fixed up and people started living there again. It eventually became the main home for Lord Polwarth.

What Harden Castle Looks Like

Harden Castle is built around a three-story tower house. Between 1680 and 1690, the castle was made bigger with new parts added. They also changed some things inside. More additions were made when the castle was reoccupied later. These new parts were built on the north side, so the front of the castle, facing south, still looks much like it did originally.

The first part of the castle was about 74 feet long from east to west and about 18 feet wide. During the changes in 1680, the castle was made about 26 feet longer towards the east.

Inside the castle, you can find cool features like decorative plaster ceilings and old fireplaces.

Fun Things Around the Castle

Outside in the castle grounds, there's a bowling green to the west of the house. This might even be from the 1600s! There's also a tall sundial that stands about 4 feet high. It has a square top with the sundial markings, a twisted middle part, and a fancy base. This sundial was originally at a different place called Dryburgh House.

Harden Castle is considered a very important historical building. It is a category A listed building, which means it's protected because of its special history and architecture.